Kylian Mbappe has predicted that Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo ’s time as the undisputed best players in the world is now over as he eyes his first Ballon d’Or.
The French forward has developed the reputation as one of the most prolific strikers in world football during his time at the Parc des Princes since a move from AS Monaco. The 23-year-old has scored 178 goals in all for the Ligue 1 giants - a total that includes seven goals in just five appearances so far this season.
Owing to his stunning form with PSG, Mbappe has now claimed that he is on the verge of claiming the first Ballon d’Or of his career whilst sending a strong message to both Ronaldo and current teammate Messi.
Speaking in an interview with the New York Times, he said: “I think I’m about to win it [the Ballon d’Or].
“I always say I dream about everything. I have no limits. So of course, like you say, it’s a new generation. And Ronaldo, Messi — you’re gonna stop. We have to find someone else, someone new.”
Mbappe is of course in the midst of his sixth season with PSG having silenced talk over his future. The Frenchman was previously out of contract in the summer window and was strongly linked with a move to Spanish giants Real Madrid.
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However, he performed a dramatic u-turn by penning a new three-year deal at the Parc des Princes. It of course remains to be seen whether Mbappe will be capable of winning the Ballon d’Or whilst with the French giants.
Brazilian forward Neymar has so far failed in his task to do just that having quit Barcelona for that very reason in 2017.
On the topic of the Brazilian, the pair have reportedly not shared the easiest relationship at the Parc des Princes with reports of feuds between the star duo.
Whilst admitting that his relationship with Neymar can have its peaks and troughs, Mbappe has reaffirmed that he will always have his respect for his teammate. He continued: "To talk about Neymar, this is the sixth year, I think we've always had a relationship like this based on respect.
"But we've always had moments like this where sometimes we've had moments that were a bit colder and moments that were a bit hotter. There are times, you'll see, when we're the best of friends and sometimes we don't talk so much, it's the nature of our relationship that's like that.
"But there is a lot of respect, I have a lot of respect for the player he is, the player he represents and the importance he has in our team. Afterwards, when you have two players with a strong character like that, life is not linear, it's sure that sometimes things happen but it always remains in the respect and in the interest of PSG."
